Leg spinner Nathan Sowter will remain at Durham Cricket until at least the end of the 2025 season after agreeing a new deal with the club.
After initially joining Durham on loan for 7 T20 games during the 2022 season, Sowter signed a 1-year white ball deal ahead of the 2023 season.
Sowter who spent 7 years at Middlesex before joining Durham has signed a 2-year contract extension at Seat Unique Riverside.
The 31-year-old was a shining light throughout Durham’s 2023 Vitality Blast campaign taking 24 wickets, the most wickets in a T20 season in Durham’s history, surpassing 22 taken by Usman Arshad in the 2015 season.
His 24 wickets came at 14 as he took his maiden T20 five wicket haul of 5/15 against Northamptonshire Steelbacks.
The leg-break bowler’s 24 wickets saw him fall one wicket behind the competition’s most successful spinner Matt Critchley.
He picked up his 100th T20 wicket when he dismissed Jos Butler, finishing the season with 103 short format wickets to his name.
Following Durham’s T20 Blast campaign Sowter impressed for Oval Invincibles as he was their leading wicket taker with 11 poles and was named fielder of the tournament.
Sowter said: “I am excited to extend my deal with Durham, I have loved every minute of my time with the club so far.
“With ambitions to keep improving in all formats across the club, it was a no brainer to commit for another two years. I can’t wait to be a part of the club as we continue to progress.”
Director of Cricket, Marcus North added: It’s extremely pleasing that Nathan has signed a new 2-year deal with us.
“Since joining Durham we have seen how much of a key performer he is in this format and to secure his future at Durham is extremely exciting.
“He brings a huge amount of experience and quality and we are looking forward to Nathan and Callum Parkinson forming a formidable partnership in our T20 Blast over the coming seasons.”
We are also pleased to announce that George Drissell has signed a 1-year contract extension with Durham.
Drissell will now remain with the club until at least the end of the 2024 season having joined Durham in 2021.
The 24-year-old who has featured for Durham in all formats joined the Club from Somerset having spent a number of years with Gloucestershire.
His most prized wicket came in last season’s Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign when he dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara for 23 as Durham beat Sussex by 132 runs at Hove.
On signing his contract extension, Drissell said: “I’m delighted to be continuing my time here at Durham. I love playing in the North East and couldn’t ask for a better changing room to be a part of.
“I can’t wait to see what next year brings in Division 1, hopefully I contribute to more wins for the Ds.”
Director of Cricket, Marcus North added: “George is a very popular member of our playing squad and is an incredibly talented off spin bowler.
We are looking froward to seeing George continue his development and push for further first team opportunities throughout 2024.”